UPDATE: Parachutist Dies After Friends Collide In Midair In Acampo

ACAMPO (CBS13) – One parachutist has died after colliding he collided with a friend in midair in Acampo.

The incident happened at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at 23500 N. Highway 99. The parachutists, both men, were jumping with the Parachute Center, confirmed Les Garcia, a San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

A group of four friends were skydiving. Two men jumped out at roughly the same time because they wanted to experience the jump together. For an unknown reason, they collided.

The force of the collision knocked one of the men unconscious. He wouldn’t be able to open his parachute and he would fall to his death. His friend was able to open his parachute and suffered a broken leg.

Bill Dause, the owner of the Parachute Center, said the two men were experienced jumpers and had been there multiple times.

“They both had probably well over 400 jumps, most of them I’d assume would be here,” he said.

The deceased jumper was found a mile and a half away from the center, on the other side of Highway 99.

The identity of the man has not been released, pending notification of next-of-kin.